Sana'a - Armed tribesmen kidnapped a Dutch couple in the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Tuesday, Sana'a governor said.

Security authorities located the area where the hostages are being held east of Sana'a, a local official said in remarks published on the website of the ruling party.

"Urgent measures were taken to secure the safety and release of the two tourists," he said.

Security sources earlier told the German Press Agency dpa that the man and wife were believed to be Italian nationals.

The sources said the two were taken at gunpoint in a suburb in the south of the city by tribesmen by a little-known clan called Al Seraj.

Dwaid said the kidnappers moved their hostages to Bani-Dhabian, a mountainous area about 80 kilometres east of Sana'a. (dpa)